Graduation 3D photo crystals

A graduation 3D photo crystal is the cap-and-gown photograph engraved inside a solid block of K9 optical crystal, built from up to 15 million individual laser points so the image stands in the middle of the glass. We work from any clear phone photo, including a photo taken of a printed graduation portrait. The name, the university and the graduation date are engraved free, and if you'd like to see your crystal before we make it, tick the preview box when you order — it's free, we'll email it within 24 hours, and nothing is engraved until you're happy with it.

Cap-and-gown photos are full length — the shape matters

This is the one thing worth getting right before you order. Graduation photos are nearly always taken standing up, full length, gown and scroll and all. Put that in a heart and the crop cuts the gown off at the knees, which is exactly the part your daughter queued two hours to wear.

• A full-length cap-and-gown shot suits a rectangle crystal, which is tall enough to hold the whole figure, or a crystal cube, which handles a three-quarter shot well.
• A close-up — the hug outside the hall, the face under the mortarboard — works in any shape, including a heart crystal.
• A group photo of the whole family on the lawn needs the width of a rectangle.

If you send us the wrong shape for the crystal you have chosen, we say so. Tick the preview box when you order and you will see the crop for yourself before anything is engraved — if it is not right we change it.

The name and the date are engraved free

Text engraving is included in the price, not added on. Most people ask for the name, the degree and the year. Some add the university, some add one short sentence from a parent. Short works best; glass is not a page.

The official photographer's print is fine to use

You do not need the digital file from the university photographer. Lay the printed photo flat, take a clear photo of it on your phone with no flash and no shadow across the face, and send that. It works. Background removal is included as standard, so the hall, the marquee and the other family waiting behind all come out.

What it costs

Keyrings, necklaces and the 2D ornament start at £39.99, cubes from £40, rectangles from £59.99 and hearts from £69.99. Every price includes the 3D conversion, free text engraving, background removal and free UK delivery in 2–3 working days. If graduation is this weekend, 24-hour delivery is available as an option at checkout.

Grandparents often order a keyring or necklace at the same time as the main crystal, so there is something for the mantelpiece and something that goes in a pocket. You can compare the full range on our 3D crystal gifts page.

Questions we get asked

Which crystal shape is best for a graduation photo?

A rectangle, in most cases. Cap-and-gown photos are full length, and a rectangle is the only shape tall enough to hold the whole gown without cropping it. A cube suits a head-and-shoulders or three-quarter shot, and a heart suits a close-up of the face.

Can you engrave the university name and graduation date?

Yes, and it costs nothing extra. Name, degree, university and date are all included. If you tick the preview box when you order, you will see the exact wording and layout on your free preview before we engrave it.

I only have the printed photo from the photographer. Can you use it?

Yes. Photograph the print with your phone, flat and in good light with no flash, and send us that. A photo of a printed photo engraves perfectly well.

There are four of us in the photo. Will that work?

Yes, in a rectangle. Group shots need the width. What we check is the size of each face in the original photo — the further back the photographer stood, the less detail there is to engrave, so a closer group shot is better than one taken across a lawn.

What if the photo has other people's families in the background?

Background removal is included as standard, so everyone behind your family disappears and only the people you want are engraved.

How long does it take to arrive?

Free UK delivery is 2–3 working days. If you asked for a preview, that clock starts once you approve it. A 24-hour delivery option is available at checkout if the ceremony or the party is sooner than that.

What if I approve it and then change my mind?

You get a full no-quibble refund — no hoops, no questions.

Who makes them?

Shaun and Sarah, in our studio in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. Four years of trading, over 15,000 crystals made and 500+ Excellent reviews on Trustpilot. If you want to see the process, read how 3D crystal photos are made, or check our frequently asked questions for anything not covered here.